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Recent Innovations in Post-harvest Preservation and Protection of Agricultural Products—Series II

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A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Product Quality and Safety".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2024) | Viewed by 14175

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Dirk E. Maier

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Guest Editor

Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Interests: food and nutrition security; post-harvest engineering; grain quality; non-chemical protection technologies; post-harvest loss reduction
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global food supply chain relies on engineered systems, operational practices, and logistics to preserve, protect, process, and deliver agricultural crops along complex supply lines from farmers in low-, middle-, and high-income countries to markets around the world. Food and nutrition security is compromised by post-harvest losses (and food waste) that have been estimated to be as high as 20% in durable and 40% in perishable crops. Preserving crops using technologies and practices such as timely harvesting, evaporative cooling, cold and frozen storage, drying, dehydrating, and protecting crops using technologies and practices such as damage-less handling, controlled- and modified-atmosphere storage, non-chemical heat and gas treatment, plant-derived protective films for individual fruits and vegetables, and improved packaging containers are critical to preserving nutrients, improving livelihoods, and realizing an efficient food system.

This second Special Issue aims to cover recent progress and innovations in science, technology, engineering, operational practices, and logistics related to the post-harvest preservation and protection of durable and perishable agricultural crops. It seeks contributions that improve effectiveness, efficiency, reliability and sustainability in post-harvest handling of crops from field to end use that preserve product quality and result in foods and feeds which are nutritious and safe for human and animal consumption.

Key topics in this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following:

Novel methods to preserve end-use quality, shelf-life, and nutritional value of harvested durable and perishable crops;
Novel methods to protect stored crops from insect pests, fungi, and other spoilage agents;
Novel sensors and measurement technologies to quantify end-use quality, shelf-life, and nutritional value of harvested crops;
Automation, monitoring, and control of crop storage technologies and systems;
Best practices to reduce and prevent post-harvest losses;
Techno-economic analysis and life-cycle assessment of engineered systems, operational practices, and logistics to preserve, protect, process, and deliver agricultural crops.

Prof. Dr. Dirk E. Maier
Guest Editor

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

post-harvest drying, handling, storage
stored product protection
crop shelf-life preservation
post-harvest loss reduction
crop end-use quality sensors
engineered crop storage systems
crop delivery logistics

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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14 pages, 885 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Germination and Vigor of Maize Seeds: Pilot-Scale Comparison of Low-Oxygen and Traditional Storage Methods

by María Bernadette Abadía, Luciana A. Castillo, Yanela N. Alonso, María Gloria Monterubbianesi, Gisele Maciel and Ricardo E. Bartosik

Agriculture 2024, 14(8), 1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081268 - 2 Aug 2024

Viewed by 617

Abstract

Seed quality declines during storage depending on relative humidity, temperature, and oxygen concentration. Low-oxygen atmospheres significantly enhanced the germination and vigor of seeds during storage in laboratory-scale experiments. Low-oxygen atmospheres include self-modified atmospheres, where gas composition changes due to microbial respiration and oxidative processes, as well as modified atmospheres, where gas composition is initially altered from an external source without further adjustments. However, the potential of low-oxygen atmospheres to preserve the quality of maize (Zea mays) seeds in bags of 25–50 kg capacity, like those employed by seed companies and small-scale farmers, remains underexplored, hindering a broader adoption of this storage technology. Our study assessed the feasibility of applying low-oxygen atmospheres for seed storage on the pilot scale, i.e., hermetic containers of 25 kg capacity made of polyethylene and polyamide, under controlled conditions. We first evaluated the ability of the hermetic containers to maintain low oxygen levels over time. Then, we compared the germination and vigor of seeds stored in the hermetic containers under modified and self-modified atmospheres with those stored in traditional poly-paper bags under normal atmospheric conditions. The seeds had 14% moisture content (wet basis) and were stored at 25 °C and 10 °C. Maintaining low oxygen levels in polyethylene–polyamide bags was feasible. Moreover, at 25 °C, modified and self-modified atmospheres maintained higher germination values (95.8% and 94.4%, respectively) compared to traditional storage (68.3%), and both were as effective as refrigeration (97.6%). However, refrigeration was better for preserving seed vigor, with radicle emergence values of 85.2% in self-modified atmospheres and 78.9% in modified atmospheres, compared to 65.0% and 61.2%, respectively, at 25 °C. In conclusion, the advantages of modified atmospheres observed in laboratory-scale studies are achievable on a larger scale with a proper container design, advancing the prospects for the practical application of this technology for the seed industry and small farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Innovations in Post-harvest Preservation and Protection of Agricultural Products—Series II)

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9 pages, 223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Inclusion of Mango Peel Waste in Diets of Layer Chickens on Performance and Egg Quality in Kenya

by Everlyne Nawiri, Joyce G. Maina, Judith A. Atela, Jane L. Ambuko and Benjamin Kyalo

Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 944; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060944 - 17 Jun 2024

Viewed by 713

Abstract

Alternative ingredients for the manufacture of poultry feeds need to be identified to meet the growing demand. A 42-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of the inclusion of mango peel waste in layer chicken diets on performance and egg quality. This study involved one hundred and fifty Isa Brown layer chickens aged 60 weeks. These chickens were assigned to five treatments with graded levels of mango peels: 0% (Treatment 1), 3.5% (Treatment 2), 7% (Treatment 3), 14% (Treatment 4) and 28% (Treatment 5), using a completely randomized design (CRD). Daily egg production was recorded, and weekly measurements included feed intake, specific gravity, egg weight, shell weight and shell thickness. Notably, Treatment 5 exhibited the highest feed conversion ratio (3.09) and Roche yolk color (RYC) fan score (14.3), which was significantly (p < 0.05) different from Treatment 1, with values of 2.36 and 12.4, respectively. Layer chicken fed on T1 had the highest egg weight and egg thickness (6.6 g and 0.44 mm, respectively), differing significantly (p < 0.05) from Treatment T5 eggs (6.3 g and 0.41 mm). It was concluded that mango peels could substitute maize in layer chicken diets up to 7% without affecting production and egg quality. Mango peels are recommended for partial substitution of maize in layer chicken diets and as natural egg yolk pigment to impart the yellow yolk desired by consumers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Innovations in Post-harvest Preservation and Protection of Agricultural Products—Series II)

13 pages, 1411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolution of Industrial Quality Parameters of Wheat during Storage in White and Colored Silo Bags: A Field-Scale Study

by Ricardo Enrique Bartosik, Marcelo Leandro Cardoso, Barbara Bettina Carpaneto, Valentina Astiz, Elena Rosa Molfese and Diego Antonio de la Torre

Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 841; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060841 - 28 May 2024

Viewed by 721

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the silo bag system has gained popularity for storing grains and by-products under hermetic conditions. However, the impact of higher temperatures in the outer grain layer on key industrial parameters, such as wheat baking quality, remains insufficiently understood. Traditional silo bags are black on the inside and white on the outside to reflect sunlight, but colored bags, recently introduced to the market, absorb more heat, potentially warming the grain and causing damage. This study aimed to assess the effect of grain strata and bag color on grain temperature and quality under field conditions. Results showed a significant surface temperature increase in colored bags compared to white ones, approximately 3 °C, which affected the temperature of the peripheral grain layer. Moisture content slightly increased (0.2 percentage points) in the outer grain layer. However, many industrial quality parameters (protein content, P/L, W, and loaf volume) and the germination test for wheat, showed no significant differences between colored and white bags or between different strata after 120 days of storage, although the falling number increased and wet gluten decreased. These findings suggest that, despite surface temperature differences, the overall industrial quality of wheat remains unaffected by external bag coloration. The influence of ambient temperature on the peripheral layer was estimated to affect approximately 5–10% of the grain mass, indicating that adverse impacts on grain quality may go unnoticed without implementing stratified sampling techniques. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Innovations in Post-harvest Preservation and Protection of Agricultural Products—Series II)

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14 pages, 4279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tracking Food Supply Chain Postharvest Losses on a Global Scale: The Development of the Postharvest Loss Information System

by Thiago Guilherme Péra, Fernando Vinícius da Rocha and José Vicente Caixeta Filho

Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1990; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101990 - 13 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1900

Abstract

Reducing food losses presents an opportunity to enhance food security, minimize waste, and improve profitability within the production sector. Creating awareness among various stakeholders in the value chain about the significance of reducing postharvest losses is a fundamental step in this discussion. This article addresses the Postharvest Loss Information System (SIPPOC) development and applicability. SIPPOC encompasses tools designed to facilitate understanding food loss occurrences across different supply chain segments. The article provides insights into the tools incorporated within the information system and describes its historical background and protocol for database updates. In essence, SIPPOC enables the analysis of food loss throughout diverse logistical stages, thereby aiding in identifying critical points and implementing targeted actions for loss reduction. Drawing on SIPPOC data, the article further examines losses within the logistics chain by comparing potato, tomato, and mango agricultural productions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Innovations in Post-harvest Preservation and Protection of Agricultural Products—Series II)

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27 pages, 4863 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Critical Drivers of Mango, Tomato, and Maize Postharvest Losses (PHL) in Low-Income Countries and Predicting Their Impact

by Hory Chikez, Dirk Maier, Sigurdur Olafsson and Steve Sonka

Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1912; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101912 - 29 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1080

Abstract

Several studies have identified a host of factors to be considered when attempting to reduce food postharvest loss (PHL). However, very few studies have ranked those factors by their importance in driving PHL. This study used the Random Forest model to rank the critical drivers of PHL in maize, mango, and tomato, cultivated in Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria, respectively. The study then predicted the maize, mango, and tomato PHLs by changing the levels of the most critical drivers of PHL and the number of farmers at each level. The results indicate that the most critical drivers of PHL consist of pre-harvest and harvest variables in the field, such as the quantity of maize harvested in the maize value chain, the method used to know when to begin mango harvest, and the type of pest that attacks plants in the tomato value chain. Furthermore, changes in the levels of a critical driver and changes in the number of smallholder farmers at a given level both have an impact on PHL, although the impact of the former is much higher than the latter. This study also revealed that the critical drivers of PHL can be categorized as either passive and difficult to manipulate, such as the geographic area within which a smallholder farmer lives, or active and easier to control, such as services provided by the Rockefeller Foundation YieldWise Initiative. Moreover, the affiliation of smallholder farmers to the YieldWise Initiative and a smallholder farmer’s geographic location are ubiquitous critical drivers across all three value chains. Finally, an online dashboard was created to allow users to explore further the relationship between several critical drivers, the PHL of each crop, and a desired number of smallholder farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Innovations in Post-harvest Preservation and Protection of Agricultural Products—Series II)

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31 pages, 6412 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Back Propagation Neural Network Model for Postharvest Blueberry Shelf-Life Prediction Based on Feature Selection and Dung Beetle Optimizer

by Runze Zhang, Yujie Zhu, Zhongshen Liu, Guohong Feng, Pengfei Diao, Hongen Wang, Shenghong Fu, Shuo Lv and Chen Zhang

Agriculture 2023, 13(9), 1784; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091784 - 9 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1590

Abstract

(1) Background: Traditional kinetic-based shelf-life prediction models have low fitting accuracy and inaccurate prediction results for blueberries. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a blueberry shelf-life prediction method based on a back propagation neural network (BPNN) optimized by the dung beetle optimizer using an elite pool strategy and a Gaussian distribution estimation strategy (GDEDBO); (2) Methods: The “Liberty” blueberry cultivar was used as the research object, and 23 quality indicators, including color parameters, weight loss rate, decay rate, and texture parameters, were measured under storage temperatures of 0, 4, and 25 °C. Based on the maximum relevance minimum redundancy (MRMR) algorithm, seven key influencing factors of shelf life were selected as the input parameters of the model, and then the MRMR-GDEDBO-BPNN prediction model was established; (3) Results: the results showed that the model outperformed the baseline model at all three temperatures, with strong generalization ability, high prediction accuracy, and reliability; and (4) Conclusions: this study provided a theoretical basis for the shelf-life determination of blueberries under different storage temperatures and offered technical support for the prediction of remaining shelf life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Innovations in Post-harvest Preservation and Protection of Agricultural Products—Series II)

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20 pages, 932 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The YieldWise Approach to Post-Harvest Loss Reduction: Creating Market-Driven Supply Chains to Support Sustained Technology Adoption

by Steven Sonka, Hyeonsuh Lee and Sonali Shah

Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 910; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040910 - 21 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2494

Abstract

Excessively high levels of post-harvest loss often are a feature of agricultural systems dominated by small-holder farmers. However, this situation is something of a paradox, as technologies exist that have been shown in field demonstrations to substantially reduce post-harvest loss. What explains this paradox? Building on insights derived from the Rockefeller Foundation’s YieldWise Initiative, this article proposes that while reducing post-harvest loss generally does require technology adoption by small-holder farmers, market-driven supply chains are essential to the sustained use of those technologies. We illustrate this approach using in-depth interview data collected from the YieldWise participants belonging to the Iringa Hope Cooperative in Tanzania. Data on the benefits and challenges of such an approach are provided from the perspective of the small-holder farmer. In addition, we model the economic benefits associated with this approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Innovations in Post-harvest Preservation and Protection of Agricultural Products—Series II)

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16 pages, 2377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling and Application of Temporal Correlation of Grain Temperature during Grain Storage

by Hongwei Cui, Qu Zhang, Wenfu Wu, Haolei Zhang, Jiangtao Ji and Hao Ma

Agriculture 2022, 12(11), 1883; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12111883 - 9 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1636

Abstract

Temperature measurement system malfunction and sensor failure in grain storage warehouses can lead to missing grain temperature data on some days. Missing data is not conducive to the monitoring of grain storage conditions. This paper establishes mathematical models of temporal correlation coefficients of grain temperature and storage time in different planes, and analyzes the influence of storage state change on grain temperature correlation. The historical grain situation data for about one year were selected from 27 flat grain storage warehouses distributed in the second to seventh grain storage ecological zones in China. In addition, correlation coefficients of grain temperature were then calculated on the XOY, XOZ and YOZ planes of each warehouse. During this process, the time interval included 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63 and 70 days, meaning that the correlation coefficients between the grain temperature on the day and the grain temperature after storage for 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63 and 70 days were calculated. Next, the correlation coefficients from the same time intervals and planes in each warehouse were sequentially connected to form arrays of correlation coefficients. Then, the 3σ-threshold setting methods and DBSCAN (density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise) method were used to analyze the correlation coefficients those arrays. According to the results, we set the correlation coefficient thresholds for each plane (XOY, XOZ and YOZ planes) at each time interval. The models were then established regarding the correlation coefficient thresholds and storage time intervals. Subsequently, the sum of squares for error (SSE), coefficient of determination (R²), and root mean square error (RMSE) were chosen to evaluate the models, with the results showing that the effect of the model established by the threshold set by the 3σ-setting method, with SSE, R² and RMSE of 0.056, 0.9771 and 0.0748, respectively, was better than the model established using the DBSCAN method. Finally, the correlation coefficients of grain temperatures with empty warehouse, new grain addition, aeration and self-heating were analyzed. The results show that the four modes in a certain time interval (e.g., 30 days) does not meet the correlation coefficient threshold during normal storage. The result can provide a theoretical basis for grain storage condition detection when grain temperature data is intermittently missing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Innovations in Post-harvest Preservation and Protection of Agricultural Products—Series II)

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Review

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14 pages, 310 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Mechanism of Drug Carryover in Feed Manufacturing as a Function of Drug Properties and Equipment Design—A Brief Review

by Esther Y. Akoto and Dirk E. Maier

Agriculture 2023, 13(9), 1834; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091834 - 19 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1445

Abstract

This paper thoroughly reviews the mechanism of veterinary drug carryover in feed manufacturing facilities, factors resulting in varying concentrations of drug carryover in processing equipment, the impact of chemical and physical properties of drugs, and the effect of equipment type and design. The Google Scholar database (from 1998 to 2023) was searched with words and phrases such as drug carryover, feed manufacturing, equipment cleaning and validation, food allergen control, sources of drug carryover, and process parameters in drug carryover. Some papers were from the Iowa State University Library database and PubMed. Drug carryover is a function of ingredients, nature of drugs, equipment type, process parameters, and cleaning procedures. The gaps are the lack of commercial feed mills data on the role and interaction of nanomaterials, molasses, equipment type, and process parameters in drug carryover in animal feed. Modification of process parameters, e.g., airflow in bucket elevators and the interaction of feed ingredients, composition, equipment type, and design, need to be investigated in the commercial setting to address drug carryover. Rhetorically, can big data facilitate the standardization of cleaning procedures at feed mills? The findings can result in drug carryover prevention/control in animal feed and animal-based human food. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Innovations in Post-harvest Preservation and Protection of Agricultural Products—Series II)

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